History

ENERGY SECTOR MILESTONES: Three Decades in the Making

1971
R. A. 6173 was passed creating the Oil Industry Commission (OIC) which was tasked to regulate the oil industry and to ensure the adequate supply of petroleum products at reasonable prices.

1972
P.D. 87 or Oil Exploration and Development Act of 1972 was signed creating a Petroleum Board. PD 334 created the Philippine National Oil Company.

1975
The Energy Conservation Movement was launched through the issuance of Batas Pambansa '76 which enabled the DOE to implement energy conservation programs.

1976
PD 910 created the Energy Development Board to integrate and coordinate through a single government entity the function and development of indigenous extracted materials.

1977
PD 1206 created the DOE with its two line bureaus: Bureau of Energy Development and Bureau of Energy Utilization.

1978
PD 1397 transformed the Department of Energy into Ministry of Energy.

1979
The commercial production of the country's first oil-field, Nido, started at the rate of 40,000 barrels per day.

1981
The first large scale power generation from domestic coal started with the operation of the 55-MW Cebu coal-fired power plant.

1982
Masinloc, the country's third oil field started commercial production.

1983
The Tongonan and Palinpinon geothermal power plants were commissioned as a product of the joint efforts of the all-Filipino staff of PNOC and NPC.

1987
The Office of the Energy Affairs replaced the Ministry of Energy with the promulgation of EO 193. EO 172 created Energy Regulatory Board. EO 215 was signed allowing the investors from private sector to participate in power generation.

1988
EO 338 was signed creating the Energy Coordinating Council. The first Solar Energy Cooperative was established in San Pascual, Burias Island in Masbate.

1989
Occidental Petroleum discovered the Camago-1 gas field.

1990
Republic Act 6957 authorized the financing, construction, operation and maintenance of infrastructure projects by the private sector though the BOT scheme. The West Linapacan oil field was discovered.

1991
RP's first BOT infrastructure, the 210-MW Hopewell gas turbine power generating facility was inaugurated. RA 7156 of the Mini-Hydroelectric Power Incentive Act was signed.

1992
Malampaya was discovered by SPEX.

1993
The build-operate-transfer (BOT) model was introduced which allows for the construction of capital intensive projects at no cost to the government.

1994
RA 7638 which provides that the DOE shall devise ways of giving royalties to local host communities of power projects in the provinces was passed.

1995
Executive Order 264 was signed, providing the reduction of bituminous coal tariff from 20 percent to 10 percent in 1997, three percent in 2000.

1996
RA 8184 or the Oil Tax Restructuring Bill was signed to restructure the excise taxes on petroleum products.

1997
Launching of the "Window of Opportunity" which is a special package for foreign and local investors in petroleum exploration and development in the country.

1998
Implementation of RA 8479 or the Downstream Oil Industry Act of 1998. O-Ilaw project was launched, aimed at electrifying 100 percent of all barangays in the country by 2006.

1999
Passage of RA 8749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 wherein DOE will be one of the implementing agencies.

2000
Establishment of a "Corridor of Focus", an investment package under the "Window of Opportunity" which is composed of more prospective areas near the Malampaya gas infrastructure or the path of the future Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline.

2001
The passage of the Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act. The inauguration of the Malampaya Deep-Water-Gas-To-Power project, signaling the birth of the country's natural gas industry.

2002
The full commercial operation of the Malampaya natural gas downstream oil sector. The Joint Congressional Power Commission (JCPC) endorsed to President Arroyo the implementing rules and regulations (IRRs) of the Republic Act No. 9136 or Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA). The 1,500 MW Ilijan natural gas project went on full commercial operation.